Date: Sunday, June 17, 2009

Subject: Final Deadline for Fantastic Fest submission: July 17

Fantastic Fest programs approximately 75 features and 50 short films, many of which are accepted out of the submission process. Last year, Fantastic Fest was named by Moviemaker Magazine as one of the 25 festivals worth the entry fee, and was also named by Variety president Charlie Koones as “one of the 10 festivals we love” alongside Cannes, Toronto and Telluride.

Final Submission Deadline: July 17, 2009
Schedule Announced: September 3, 2009
Festival Begins: September 24, 2009

The final deadline for submitting a feature or short film to this year’s Fantastic Fest is coming up fast, Friday, July 17. To submit your film or for additional information about Fantastic Fest, please visit the official website, www.fantasticfest.com.

“Fantastic Fest has made my whole career. Everything related to the future of Timecrimes and mine as an American director comes through your festival. I know that some directors have a particular festival attached to their whole biography. Now I know mine.” – Nacho Vigalondo, director, TIMECRIMES (worldwide rights to TIMECRIMES were purchased by Magnolia Releasing following the world premiere of the film at Fantastic Fest 2007)

“The folks at Austin’s Fantastic Fest set the tone when they describe it as a place for “all around badass cinema.” With kudos from Charlie Koones, former publisher of Variety, who calls it “one of the 10 Film Festivals We Love,” moviemakers are definitely getting into that tender sprit, too, especially when it comes to the amount of publicity their Fantastic Fest screenings are generating. “For the size of our event, we have an incredibly high number of journalists from key publications: Variety, Twitchfilm, The Hollywood Reporter, Cinematical, Ain’t It Cool News, Fangoria, Rue Morgue, indieWIRE and Film Threat just to name a few. We guarantee that your film will get a review and possibly as many as eight to ten,” promises festival director Tim League. If you’re hoping those good reviews will turn into a great distribution deal, this genre-focused fest has got you covered on that front, too. “We have a high volume of acquisition representatives and buyers from major and indie studios at the fest and have a media room equipped with screeners of all films for those agents who can only be on hand for part of the fest.” – MOVIEMAKER MAGAZINE

Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009

Subject: Early Deadline for Fantastic Fest submission: March 4

Fantastic Fest, the largest genre film festival in the United States has announced it’s 2009 deadlines for film submissions. Fantastic Fest programs approximately 75 features and 50 short films, many of which are accepted out of the submission process. Last year, Fantastic Fest was named by Moviemaker Magazine as one of the 25 festivals worth the entry fee, and was also named by Variety president Charlie Koones as “one of the 10 festivals we love” alongside Cannes, Toronto and Telluride.

Important dates for Fantastic Fest 2009
Discount Earlybird Deadline: March 4, 2009
Regular Deadline: May 6, 2009
Late Deadline: June 3, 2009
Without A Box Extended Deadline: July 17, 2009
Schedule Announced: September 3, 2009
Festival Begins: September 24, 2009

The “discount earlybird” deadline for submitting a feature or short film to this year’s Fantastic Fest is coming up fast, this Wednesday, March 4. To submit your film or for additional information about Fantastic Fest, please visit the official website, www.fantasticfest.com.

“Fantastic Fest has made my whole career. Everything related to the future of Timecrimes and mine as an American director comes through your festival. I know that some directors have a particular festival attached to their whole biography. Now I know mine.” – Nacho Vigalondo, director, TIMECRIMES (worldwide rights to TIMECRIMES were purchased by Magnolia Releasing following the world premiere of the film at Fantastic Fest 2007)

“The folks at Austin’s Fantastic Fest set the tone when they describe it as a place for “all around badass cinema.” With kudos from Charlie Koones, former publisher of Variety, who calls it “one of the 10 Film Festivals We Love,” moviemakers are definitely getting into that tender sprit, too, especially when it comes to the amount of publicity their Fantastic Fest screenings are generating. “For the size of our event, we have an incredibly high number of journalists from key publications: Variety, Twitchfilm, The Hollywood Reporter, Cinematical, Ain’t It Cool News, Fangoria, Rue Morgue, indieWIRE and Film Threat just to name a few. We guarantee that your film will get a review and possibly as many as eight to ten,” promises festival director Tim League. If you’re hoping those good reviews will turn into a great distribution deal, this genre-focused fest has got you covered on that front, too. “We have a high volume of acquisition representatives and buyers from major and indie studios at the fest and have a media room equipped with screeners of all films for those agents who can only be on hand for part of the fest.” – MOVIEMAKER MAGAZINE

Austin, Texas – February 9, 2008 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival announced today a new partnership with Fantastic Fest which will manifest through a new lineup in the official film festival program: “SXSW Presents Fantastic Fest at Midnight.” Now in its 5th year, Alamo Drafthouse’s Fantastic Fest has quickly become one of the largest genre film festivals in the United States and has been dubbed “Geek Telluride” and “one of the 10 festivals we love” by Variety. “SXSW Presents Fantastic Fest at Midnight” is a representative sample of the young festival’s signature midnight genre programming, featuring six new premieres exclusive to SXSW.

“The Alamo Drafthouse has been an eleven-year partner of SXSW,” says Fantastic Fest director and Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League. “In fact, our very first show at the original Alamo Drafthouse location was opening night of SXSW 1997. We are proud to work so closely with such a respected institution, and in 2009 with ‘SXSW Presents Fantastic Fest at Midnight,’ we plan to deliver one of the best movie experiences of the year for genre film fans.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to enhance our Midnighters section with the infusion of six badass Fantastic Fest films,” says SXSW Film Conference and Festival Producer Janet Pierson. “The Fantastic Fest, in its short life, has really added a lot of energy and fun here in Austin, and the Alamo Drafthouse is already such a natural and significant partner to SXSW, so it was a no-brainer to invite them to preview their program with us.”

The full “SXSW presents Fantastic Fest at midnight” lineup will be announced later this month at www.sxsw.com. For more information about Fantastic Fest (September 24 – October 1) visit www.fantasticfest.com .

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Subject: 2009 Fantastic Fest submissions are live

Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar, Austin, TX
Fantastic Fest, September 24-October 1, 2009

Contact:
Tim League
(512) 912-0529
info@fantasticfest.com
www.fantasticfest.com

Although the dust is still settling from the sold out 2008 edition of Fantastic Fest, we have now officially opened the submission season for the 2009 Festival. All submissions are handled through Without A Box, a direct link to the submission page can be found at www.fantasticfest.com.

IMPORTANT FESTIVAL DATES:
March 4, 2009: Earlybird Submission Deadline
May 6, 2009: Regular Submission Deadline
June 3, 2009: Late Submission Deadline
July 17, 2009: WAB Extended Deadline (submissions closed)
September 24: Fantastic Fest 2009 Begins

Visit the Fantastic Fest website (www.fantasticfest.com) for information on film submissions as well as 2009 festival badges.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:
Fantastic Fest was named by Variety President Charlie Koones as one of the “10 festivals we love” alongside industry heavy-hitters Cannes, Telluride and Toronto. Fantastic Fest was also named one of the “25 Festivals worth the entry fee” by Moviemaker magazine.

Fantastic Fest is an eight-day festival of the best new sci-fi, horror, fantasy and genre films, as well as choice classic and obscure cult titles from all over the world. The festival director and head programmer is Tim League (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema), with additional programming by Harry Knowles (Ain’t It Cool News), Blake Ethridge (Cinema is Dope), Todd Brown (Twitchfilm.net), Zack Carlson (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema) and Lars Nilsen (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema). Fantastic Fest is a supporting member of the prestigious Melies European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation and a founding member of the North American Fantastic Festival Alliance. Fantastic Fest is sponsored in part by Ain’t It Cool News, Twitchfilm, Gamecock, DVD Empire, Best Buy, VIZ Pictures, Embassy Suites, Dark Sky Films, The Texas Film Commission, Room Service Vintage, Rue Morgue Magazine, Fangoria Magazine, The Austin Chronicle, The Onion and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar.

Nike Sportswear and Fantastic Fest present:
COME PLAY WITH US
A celebration of THE SHINING at the Timberline lodge, October 31, 2008
www.shiningparty.com

In 1980, Stanley Kubrick came to the Timberline Lodge to film one of the all-time great horror classics, THE SHINING. In the film, Jack Nicholson slowly loses his grasp on reality and loses himself in a hallucination of a 1920s era ball. Twenty-Eight years later, Nike Sportswear and Fantastic Fest have joined forces to recreate the very same ball at the very same lodge.

Two ticket options are available for this special night:

VIP Overnight Package:
Dinner at the Lodge
3 Cocktails per person
Live music and shows throughout the evening
Limited Edition silk-screened Event Poster
A one-night stay at the historic Timberline Lodge
In-room screening of the film
VIP gift package
Continental breakfast the morning after the party

This VIP Overnight Package is designed for couples who want to stay the night. Ticket price is $100 per person ($200 per room). Note: the regular Timberline room rate is $220/night for just the room. As there are only 50 rooms available for overnight stay, we are offering a “the Gold Room ticket,” a discounted admission to the party for guests not staying the night.

The Gold Room Ticket:
Dinner at the Lodge
3 Cocktails per person
Live music and shows throughout the evening
Limited Edition Silkscreened Event Poster
Round trip bus service to and from the party

Only 200 Gold Room tickets are available for $25 per person.

Attire:
Formal attire is mandatory, 20’s era formal attire is preferred. We will have special gifts for the best period attire of the night.

Schedule:
5:00 PM Boarding begins for Gold Room Ticket-holders in Portland (location TBA)
5:30 PM Gold Room Ticket-holder buses depart
7:00 PM Dinner begins at Timberline Lodge
9:00 PM Music, cocktails and entertainment begin
11:50 PM Return bus boarding begins for Gold Room Ticket holders

At the stroke of midnight, all VIP Overnight guests are required to return to their rooms and turn on their TVs for a very special screening of THE SHINING. All VIP guests will be watching THE SHINING simultaneously, but in the privacy of their own rooms.

Note: VIP guests will need to provide their own transportation to the lodge. VIP Overnight guest check-in begins at 6:00 PM on October 31 and check-out is at 11:00 AM on November 1.

Tickets for this event go on sale on Friday, October 10 at 2:00 PM PST at www.shiningparty.com, where you can find additional details and updates about the event. As tickets are extremely limited, we anticipate this show to sell out quickly.

In Fox Walden’s October 10 release of CITY OF EMBER, Bill Murray plays the Mayor of Ember, an underground city where the generations have lived for over 200 years to escape a ravaged surface. But on September 25, 2008, this legendary performer, along with CITY OF EMBER director Gil Kenan, traveled a mile and a half underground to announce his “candidacy” for Mayor of Ember and to kick off GET LIT: THE SUBTERRANEAN DANCE PARTY, the closing night event of Fantastic Fest 2008.

Fantastic Fest, teaming with Fox Walden’s CITY OF EMBER and Red Bull held GET LIT at the legendary Longhorn Caverns in Burnett, TX. Following the closing night screening of CITY OF EMBER, hosted by Ain’t It Cool News’ Harry Knowles, 400 festival attendees and special guests were transported via chartered bus to Longhorn Caverns, a Texas state park that previously played host to the Alamo Drafthouse’s 2006 premiere of THE DESCENT.

Like the underground city of Ember, Longhorn Caverns became a world unlike any other as party goers were treated to the sounds of such top DJs as Kid Indie, King Louie, Markus with a K and DJ Manny, along with an open bar filled with Red Bull and a CITY OF EMBER milieu to commemorate the upcoming Fox Walden release. It was here that star Bill Murray and director Gil Kenan premiered the “Vote for Cole” national TV campaign for partygoers amidst screams of “Murray for President” from the adoring crowd. Afterwards, they mixed and mingled to promote the film’s release and to celebrate the closing night of Fantastic Fest, the largest genre film festival in the U.S., screening over 70 features and 100 shorts from all over the world. Other Fantastic Fest 2008 guests included actors Bill Pullman (SURVEILLANCE), Paul Rudd (ROLE MODELS) and Amy Smart (SEVENTH MOON), along with filmmakers Rain Johnson (THE BROTHERS BLOOM) and David Wain (ROLE MODELS).

In addition to Bill Murray, CITY OF EMBER co-stars 2008 Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan (ATONEMENT) and 2003 Academy Award-winner Tim Robbins. For more information, go to www.cityofember.com.

CITY OF EMBER Synopsis: For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights – underground. But Ember’s once powerful generator is failing . . . and the great lamps that illuminate the city are starting to flicker. Now, in a race against time, the citizens must search Ember for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of the city’s existence, and escape before the lights go out forever.

Fantastic Fest draws to a close tonight, but we are having such a good time, that we don’t want to let it end!

On Sunday, September 28, Fantastic Fest is hosting the BEST OF FANTASTIC FEST at the Alamo South Lamar featuring screenings of three of the most popular films of the festival. These screenings are 100% free, first come, first serve. The shows are open to badge holders and the general public alike, badge holders do not get priority seating. They are truly first come, first serve.

Let the Right One In 9/28 4:05 PM
An awkward, introverted boy (Oskar) befriends a new neighbor girl (Eli) who helps him to confront the bullies at school. Eli, however, has a dark secret, and there are bodies piling up at the local morgue.

Chocolate 9/28 7:00 PM
The director of ONG BAK returns with his new protégé, who was in training for five years for this role. Jeeja Vismistananda portrays an autistic girl who learns martial arts from watching Tony Jaa and Bruce Lee films so as to exact revenge on those who bankrupted her mother.

Donkey Punch 9/28 10:00 PM
Seven sexy young Brits are hanging out on a “borrowed” yacht for a day of drugs, debauchery, and ultimately donkey punching. It’s the last activity causes everything to unravel.

For more information about Fantastic Fest, check out the official website. Film Badges are currently on sale for Fantastic Fest 2009.

Fantastic Fest is proud to announce the winning films of the 2008 festival. Taking top prize in the AMD Next Wave competition is the Japanese sci-fi horror film TOKYO GORE POLICE. The Audience Award goes to THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE WEIRD, stylized indie-noir SOUTH OF HEAVEN takes the AMD Fantastic Fest Online Award, and LET THE RIGHT ONE IN nabs the Best Horror Feature. Complete awards listings are below:

Bloodshots 48 Hour Filmmaking Contest:
Team: Scottish Rite Productions
Film: Meet the Maydays
Team Capt – Drew Thomas

Fantastic Fest Bumper Contest:
Team: Yer Dead
Film: Report Card
Team Capt – Jason Eisener

Animated Shorts:
First Place: Bernie’s Doll
Second Place: Muto
Third Place: Violeta
Special Jury Award for Technical Merit: Facts In The Case Of Mr. Hollow

Fantastic Shorts:
First Place: The Object
Second Place: Spandex Man
Third Place: Stagman
Special Jury Award for Visual Invention: Rojo Red

Horror Shorts:
First Place:. Electric Fence
Second Place:. I Love Sarah Jane
Third Place: El Senor Puppe
Special Jury Award for sheer enjoyability: The Horribly Slow Murderer With The Extremely Inefficient Weapon

Fantastic Features:
First Place: HOW TO GET RID OF THE OTHERS
Second Place: CARGO 200
Third Place: EX DRUMMER
Special Jury Award for originality and vision: SANTOS

Horror Features:
First Place: LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (surprise!)
Second Place: ACOLYTES
Third Place: DONKEY PUNCH
Special Jury Award for most politically incorrect gore: FEAST 2
Special Jury Award for best use of latex: JACK BROOKS MONSTER SLAYER

Audience Award:
First Place: The Good, The Bad and the Weird
Second Place: Chocolate
Third Place: JCVD

AMD Fantastic Fest Online:
Best Feature Film: South of Heaven
Best Short Film: Treevenge

AMD Next Wave:
First Place: TOKYO GORE POLICE
Second Place: DEADGIRL
Third Place: LE CREME

For more information about Fantastic Fest, please visit our official website: www.fantasticfest.com.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:
Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the United States featuring over 100 films from over 30 countries. The event highlights the best new sci-fi, horror, fantasy and genre films, as well as choice classic and obscure cult titles from all over the world. The festival director and head programmer is Tim League (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema), with additional programming by Harry Knowles (Ain’t It Cool News), Todd Brown (Twitchfilm.net), Blake Ethridge (Cinema is Dope), Karrie League (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema), Zack Carlson (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema) and Lars Nilsen (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema). Fantastic Fest is a supporting member of the prestigious Melies European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation and a founding member of the North American Fantastic Festival Alliance. Fantastic Fest is sponsored in part by Gamecock Media, AMD, Fosters, Embassy Suites, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, CITY OF EMBER, DVD Empire, Best Buy, Dark Sky Films, Envy Magazine, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Texas Film Commission, Image Entertainment, Viz Pictures, HungrymanTV.com, Book People, Room Service Vintage, Media Blasters, Big Top Candy, Austin Chronicle, The Onion, Fangoria Magazine, Rue Morgue Magazine, Twitchfilm.com, Ain’t It Cool News, Smitty’s Market and Louie Mueller Barbecue.

In less than 2 hours and a full year before the festival, VIP Badges for Fantastic Fest 2009 are SOLD OUT! Regular Film badges are still on sale at www.fantasticfest.com but judging by the speed of sales on the VIP badges, these may also not last long.

Fantastic Fest 2008 has posted record attendance this year, with an anticipated 16000 admissions over the eight day festival.

About Fantastic Fest
Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the United States featuring over 100 films from over 30 countries. The event highlights the best new sci-fi, horror, fantasy and genre films, as well as choice classic and obscure cult titles from all over the world. The festival director and head programmer is Tim League (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema), with additional programming by Harry Knowles (Ain’t It Cool News), Todd Brown (Twitchfilm.net), Blake Ethridge (Cinema is Dope), Karrie League (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema), Zack Carlson (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema) and Lars Nilsen (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema). Fantastic Fest 2008 is a supporting member of the prestigious Melies European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation and a founding member of the North American Fantastic Festival Alliance. Fantastic Fest is sponsored in part by Gamecock Media, AMD, Fosters, Embassy Suites, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, CITY OF EMBER, DVD Empire, Best Buy, Dark Sky Films, Envy Magazine, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Texas Film Commission, Image Entertainment, Viz Pictures, HungrymanTV.com, Book People, Room Service Vintage, Media Blasters, Big Top Candy, Austin Chronicle, The Onion, Fangoria Magazine, Rue Morgue Magazine, Twitchfilm.com, Ain’t It Cool News, Smitty’s Market and Louie Mueller Barbecue.

Sure, we sent the festival guide to the printer, but for whatever reason, we just didn’t stop working on getting more amazing films for you guys to watch.

Since the close of the printed guide, here are the late additions to the festival lineup:

Vinyan (dir. Fabrice du Welz, 2008, France)
Fabrice du Welz’s follow up to the brutal Calvaire (Fantastic Fest official selection 2005) was one of the most wildly anticipated films in the genre fan community this year. The film just world-premiered at Venice and is now heading down to Austin for it’s US Premiere. VINYAN is a controversial and harrowing journey into the spiritual darkness that envelops two grieving parents as they search Thailand and Burma against all hope for their son, whom they believe may have survived the giant Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.

YOUR NAME HERE (dir. Matthew Wilder, 2008, USA)
With actor Bill Pullman live in person!
A surreal fantasia — part grindhouse mutant and part arthouse object — that imagines a day in the summer of 1974 when America’s greatest science-fiction writer, William J. Frick (inspired by the public life of Philip K. Dick and portrayed by Bill Pullman) wakes up to discover he is living inside his own paranoid science fiction.

Pulse 2 (dir. Joel Soisson, 2008, USA)
Jamie Bamber (Lee Adama from Battlestar Galactica!) plays Stephen, a survivor haunted by the ghosts of his past trying to find a safe haven for his daughter in a truly frightening world. In this post-apocalyptic sequel to PULSE, cities are deserted, technology has been destroyed and the few remaining human beings eschew anything electrical in order to avoid a confrontation with the soulless ghosts that now wander the planet.

Repo! The Genetic Opera (dir. Darren Bousman, 2008, USA)
No, this isn’t a new title, but we’ve been so FLOODED with requests to see this film that the studio agreed to set up an extra screening for non-badgeholders at midnight on Friday for people who will be driving in from out of town to see it. Tickets are for sale now for non-badgeholders here.

Secret Screenings!
We’ve added Secret Screening B already at midnight on Wednesday, September 24. What isn’t announced yet is 2 OTHER late festival secret screenings C and D! We expect those to fall into place in the next 24 hours, so check back soon! We’ve added a “Secret Screening” category to the drop down menu on the website for your convenience, so you can see them all.

The festival begins in a mere 4 days! We’ll see you all very, very soon. In the meantime, make sure and sign up for your B-Side account so you can build your personal schedule with their very easy, intuitive scheduling tool. Share your B-Side
account name with your friends so you can compare schedules. To sign up for a B-Side Account, click here.